I just finished major renovation on an enclosed porch at my house. Was looking through the early pics of this project and found this. No direct experience with these nasties, can you help identify from the pic (I was told they were carpenter ants and nothing was found live). Boston area.
TIA.
Listeners write in about haunted pipes and building-science tomes, and they ask questions about roof venting and roof leaks.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
It does look like carpenter ants (they have smooth tunnels and don't leave sawdust). Comparatively speaking, carpenter ants are better than termites: they do less damage. They are pretty long lived, so it's weird that you had no live bugs. Maybe the water source was removed??
there's all kinds of gels and preventative stuff to keep them from coming back, but, Diatomaceaus earth is the best way (and safest!! TO YOU). Boric acid or borax products are good, too. There's no reason to go for chemicals with these guys. My fave is the Liquid Ant Killing System because it attracts them, too.
If your damage comes without creatures, there's probably not much worry of an infestation, but you should take preventative measures, as New England is known for these guys.
They are pretty good sized (1/4 to 3/4) and are found where there's a water source. You can tell them apart from other ants because the black color of the "black carpenter ant" and they have furry whitish/yellowey hairy stuff on their rear ends.
Up in your parts, theres two kinds: black Carpenter Little Black Carpenter.
http://www.scarafaggio.com/carpenter_dam.htm
Thank you very much for the info. The point about the water source makes sense to me. The house was very neglected before i bought it, leaky roof and the water pooled and drained out of that corner of the enclosed porch. First thing I did was put a new roof on, that was 6~7 years ago. Have totally renovated the rest of the rooms since, this porch was last.
Joists have since been replaced with PT lumber (leftmost corner was in previous pic, rest of floor was saved, including roof, but outside walls and windows are new) . Will spend some time spraying around the foundation to keep them buggers away.
thanks again.
View Image
Don't bother to spray, just sprinkle some diatamaceous earth around every once in a while.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
it's cheap, safe your you/kids/dogs and will kill them.
glad it's working out!
good roof action is the key preventer of carpenter ants!
"carpenter ants are better than termites: they do less damage. "Carpenter ants don't realy "do damage". They take advantage of already damaged wood (rotten) and dig it out to make a nest..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
agreed, they don't really "eat" the wood. rather have them any day...termites are mean little creatures.
Sharp, yes, It's carpenter ants as suspected, remove the moisture and you remove the ants, your mention of pooling water in the affected corner is confirmation. Good flashing/drainage techniques are key to keeping carpenter ants away.
What town you in? I'm from Waltham.
Geoff
Sorry about the late reply. I've been on and off teh list, unless one catches a reply soon enough, it no longer shows on their screen. I just discovered this filter of viewing posts "unread to me".
Thanks for the note Geoff an dood to meet you, i'm up in Wakefield.